Saturday, 4 October 2014

The psalm section brims with sweet praise to God.
“This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes”.

Matthew 20: 17 – 28

Jesus, on the way to Jerusalem, tells the disciples
that he will be arrested, flogged and crucified and on the third day he will be
raised. The mother of James and John asks Jesus to promote her sons to be the
two most senior people in His Kingdom. Jesus asks can they endure what he will
endure? He says too that those positions are not his to grant. When the
disciples express their anger at the request Jesus reassures them by saying
that unlike other nations where the senior people rule over the rest, in Jesus’
Kingdom, the more senior the more one serves others and “to lead,” means to
ransom your life for many.

Collect for
Morning Prayer

Tiny Bird Sanctuary Island Deniliquin NSW2014 L Osburn

Holy Lord, you indeed do marvellous things including
re-defining leadership so that it is about service. In all the leadership roles
we take guide us to serve first and achieve the aims and objectives with people
so that we build everyone’s capacities and build your kingdom through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sunday 5
October2014

Evening
Prayer

Exodus 22: 21 – 23: 9

The section is a series of commands to treat aliens
well, care for the poor, widows and orphans. Compassion is required. God and
the people’s leader should not be cursed. Make an offering from all production
quickly. Dedicate your heirs to God. Be just and honest: no false reports, no
malicious witness, no joining in with the crowd to do something you know is
wrong, no siding with the majority to pervert the course of justice and no
partiality in judgements – even for the poor.

If something that belongs to our enemy is lost or in
trouble we should help, and not delay. We must uphold justice for all and not
convict the innocent or people who are in the right. We must not oppress
resident aliens.

Psalm 80: 7 – 15

This psalm is a prayer for deliverance from national
enemies. It compares Israel to a vine that was planted, flourished until it was
a great over-arching life but is now being ravaged, eaten and rooted out.

Romans 16: 1 – 16

Paul names the faithful people he knows and had worked
with who are either in Rome or who will visit and encourages the Romans to
greet them with a holy kiss and pass on Paul’s regard for them.

Collect for
Evening Prayer

Sanctuary Island Deniliquin NSW2014 L Osburn

Holy and compassionate God with Paul we pray for all
your faithful people in the world. Keep us free from fear and harm. Strengthen
us to be generous and pass on your care for all humanity through our actions. We
pray for liberation from all forces and powers that would harm your kingdom on
earth so that together, your people from every nation may live in harmony, in
peace and flourishing love through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.